Low-Noise Aircraft, Particularly at Take-Off and Landing

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an aircraft comprising: a rear vertical tail unit consisting of at least two tail fins ( 5, 6 ) forming, with the rear part ( 7 ) of said fuselage ( 4 ), a channel ( 8 ) arranged on the back thereof; and at least one turbine engine ( 9, 10 ) arranged on the back of said fuselage ( 4 ) so that the gas streams generated by said turbine engine ( 9, 10 ) penetrate into said channel ( 8 ); and moreover, the main landing gear of said aircraft is arranged integrally beneath the fuselage (in  11 ); said wings ( 2, 3 ) have a slight sweep angle(φ); and said wings have a large fineness ratio.

The present invention relates to an aircraft having a low noise level, particularly during take-off and landing.

For example, document U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,017 has already disclosed an aircraft comprising:

-   -   a fuselage;     -   two wings arranged laterally with respect to said fuselage and         not carrying any engines;     -   a rear vertical tail section consisting of at least two fins and         forming, with the rear portion of said fuselage, a channel         arranged on the back thereof; and     -   at least one turbine engine arranged on the back of said         fuselage such that the gas streams generated by said turbine         engine enter said channel.

Thus, owing to the design of the rear tail sections in the form of a channel and to the arrangement of the turbine engines at the entrance to the channel, it is possible to achieve a considerable reduction in sound emissions since the noise generated by the turbine engines is sucked in by the channel and is evacuated along the latter and upwardly away from the fuselage, that is to say away from the passengers situated at the rear of the aircraft cabin, and a fortiori away from residents living near airports. The noise generated is thus masked by the rear tail sections of the fuselage, which constitute an acoustic shield.

The object of the present invention is to improve the aforementioned aircraft so as to reduce further still the noise generated by said turbine engines, primarily during takeoff and landing.

To this end, according to the invention, the aircraft of the type recalled above is noteworthy in that:

-   -   the main landing gear of said aircraft is arranged entirely         below the fuselage;     -   said wings have a small sweep angle; and     -   said wings have a high aspect ratio.

Thus, according to the invention, not only do the wings of said aircraft not carry any engines but, in addition, they do not have to support at least part of the landing gear. As a result, it becomes possible to optimize the aerodynamic characteristics of said wings:

-   -   by reducing their sweep angle, thereby increasing the maximum         lift of the aircraft, and thus the low-speed performance; and     -   by increasing the aspect ratio of the wings (which is the ratio         of the span of a wing to the square of the area of this wing),         thereby providing them with a high fineness ratio.

Hence, the aircraft has excellent performance on takeoff (it rises more quickly) and on landing (it lands more slowly), with the result that the noise generated on takeoff and landing is also greatly reduced.

Preferably, said sweep angle is at most equal to 10° and said aspect ratio is at least equal to 10.

The figures of the appended drawing will give a clear understanding of how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from the front and from above, of an aircraft according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the aircraft of FIG. 1.

The aircraft 1, shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to the present invention, comprises two wings 2 and 3 arranged, laterally and symmetrically, with respect to the fuselage 4, of longitudinal axis L-L.

The rear vertical tail section of the aircraft 1 comprises two fins 5 and 6 forming, with the rear portion 7 of the fuselage 4, a channel 8 arranged on the back of said aircraft. The channel 8 is open upwardly, but closed downwardly (by said rear portion 7) and laterally (by the fins 5 and 6).

Two turbine engines 9 and 10 are carried by the back of the fuselage 4 and are arranged such that the gas streams generated by said turbine engines enter said channel 8. Thus, this channel acts as an acoustic shield, thereby reducing the noise generated by the turbine engines 9 and 10, both downwardly and laterally.

The landing gear (not shown) of the aircraft 1 is arranged entirely below the fuselage 4 and, in the retracted state, it is housed in a compartment 11 formed in the lower portion of said fuselage.

Furthermore, the wings 2 and 3 have a small sweep angle φ, for example at most equal to 10°, and a high aspect ratio (ratio of the span of a wing to the square of the area of this wing), for example at least equal to 10.

Thus, by virtue of the invention, the aircraft 1 is able to take off quickly and land slowly, thereby further reducing the noise perceived by persons situated in the vicinity of said aircraft when it is taking off and landing. 

1-3. (canceled)
 4. An aircraft comprising: a fuselage (4); two wings (2, 3) arranged laterally with respect to said fuselage (4) and not carrying any engines; a rear vertical tail section consisting of at least two fins (5, 6) and forming, with the rear portion (7) of said fuselage (4), a channel (8) arranged on the back thereof; and at least one turbine engine (9, 10) arranged on the back of said fuselage (4) such that the gas streams generated by said turbine engine (9, 10) enter said channel (8), wherein: the main landing gear of said aircraft is arranged entirely below the fuselage (at 11); said wings (2, 3) have a small sweep angle (φ); and said wings have a high aspect ratio.
 5. The aircraft as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sweep angle (φ) is at most equal to 10°.
 6. The aircraft as claimed in claim 4, wherein said aspect ratio is at least equal to
 10. 7. The aircraft as claimed in claim 5, wherein said aspect ratio is at least equal to
 10. 